This year marked a significant milestone…. I am now the same age (56) my father was when he retired back in 1991 after struggling with health issues. Fortunately, I’m healthy and I do not see an end in sight for my career.   I’m moving into my 29^th year of practice (32 as a physician) and I love what I do.

 

As yearly events mark the passage of time, I do get to reflect on my work and my choices…..and overall, I’m satisfied with my path……   It’s an interesting place in one’s career.  In giving my staff impressions for the upcoming few years in the office, I made the point that I have an impressive group of contemporaries from Johns Hopkins that I compare myself with.

My class is  a group of outstanding individuals…and they’ve accomplished a great deal.   They are….. Head of Oncology at Johns Hopkins, Head of Scientific Research at Johns Hopkins Medical School, Head of Urology at Johns Hopkins, Dean of Medicine at University of Indiana, the Dean of Meharry Medical School….and these are just the ones that I can readily identify.  I’m sure there are others who’ve accomplished as much, or more, and certainly the rest of well-known in their special area of expertise or in their locale.  I, on the other hand, have pursued a more straightforward path, one of traditional practice, but I think we have created something special here in Scottsdale.

 

Myself, and the entire staff, are dedicated to the principles that were inculcated in me at Johns Hopkins….that of excellence and care.  We were taught in training that:  Excellence is not an act…it is a habit.  You are what you do every day.

 

With this in mind, we strive, every day in this office, to be the best we can in providing personal attention and highest level medical care to those who seek our assistance and expertise.

With such accomplished medical brethren, I would feel satisfied with nothing less.

 

So it is, than in the coming years, you can expect us to maintain this excellence as we attempt to perfect our medical practice, to give each of you the attention in knowledge and service you have every right to expect from an outstanding physician and outstanding office.

It is an honor to serve you now…and in the coming years.

 

As my oldest patient, a 104 year old fellow, tells me….’you’re just getting started.’

 

All the best,

Dr. Lakin

 

Wash your hands, use your cleanser, and be generally careful out there. We have Tamiflu & new Xofluza this year to treat if needed. Read the latest here: https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/flu/surveillance/2018-2019/influenza-rsv-2018-19-week51.pdf …

 

 

For more Tweets by Dr. Lakin, click HERE!

Doctor Doug:

I heard on the news that one of my  medications was recalled due to chemical concerns and cancer risk.  Can you tell me what you recommend I do?

Sid

 

I responded

Sid;
Right now…..several blood pressure medications are being implicated with concerns of imperfect production with chemical ‘taint’.
The studies do not support any short term worries, but nonetheless, this is not ideal or acceptable over time.

Plan:
1. Call your pharmacy and check to see if your medication lot# has been recalled.

2. Get an alternative producer if your manufacturer or lot has been directly recalled, if available in that pharmacy. If not, call an alternative pharmacy to see about their medication and lots.
2. Return to our website where we will post and updated list on medications that are recalled and resources where you can locate information
3. Continue on your current medication dose and type if it is working as there may be no perfectly safe harbor until this issue is clarified.

D

 

LINKS

Lack of short term risk of tainted medications

https://www.tctmd.com/news/lack-short-term-cancer-risk-tainted-valsartan-reassuring

FDA RECALLS:

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm

FDA EMAIL UPDATES FOR RECALLS (SIGN UP)

http://go.fda.gov/subscriptionmanagement

 

The internet is full of untruths, especially when it comes to comments and concerns about statin therapy.

 

There is a grass-roots effort by the non-medical community to impugn the CHOLESTEROL HYPOTHESIS, a foundational concept in cardiovascular medicine that hold that higher level of cholesterol (LDL/bad fraction) increases the risk of heart disease and lowering this number reduces the risk.

 

So….they comment on data that is critical of this concept or that suggests statin therapy is ineffective, or worse, causes dementia and other major health problems.

 

Nothing could be further from the truth, and the latest study in the NEJM on PRALUENT, a new type of injection medicine to lower cholesterol, has demonstrated definitively that lowering LDL cholesterol to levels previously unobtainable (25-50) and provide improved benefits in the heart and prevent death.

 

PRALUENT, and it’s sister medication REPATHA, are a new set of medications that focus on reducing cholesterol via the PCSK9 receptor pathway.  This is markedly different than the mechanism of action from statins, but it achieves the fundamental same goal….reduction of LDL cholesterol.

 

In this latest study, we finally have ‘endpoint’ results that show longer life in patients who have had an acute MI and who are put on PRALUENT.

 

The exact patients who benefit most from the $600 per month injection therapy (every 2-4 week self-injections) will become clear with additional study, but one this is for certain…the lynchpin CHOLESTEROL HYPOTHESIS continues to hold and inform us on ways to increase longevity in heart disease patients.

A recent report from The Washington Post about researcher Piero Anversa’s falsified heart research at Harvard Medical School is a tragedy.

 

Not only has this researcher duped the general scientific community, his 31 scientific papers suggested a new area of research for young cardiologists, and those who are following this path and chasing a red herring.

 

Doing great research is a challenge and a burden.  Pursuit of greatness can alter the objective mentality that is needed for a true scientific mindset.  See my recent comments on James Allison, PhD, the latest Nobel Prize winner in medicine.

 

Anversa is not alone.  There is an entire website devoted to withdrawn research.   Review it  <<<HERE>>>>  

 

You will be amazed how much of what is taken for accurate results is ultimately withdrawn from the scientific literature, and often without such fanfare.

Although my patients know that Cathy Kurth, AD is the audiologist we recommend the most, many patients still are not inclined to use a hearing aid for a whole host of reasons.

 

With the FDA approval of the BOSE HEARING AID, one of those impediments to getting a hearing aid has been eliminated, in that you can buy this hearing aid without seeing an audiologist.

 

Yes…that’s right…you can now just go buy a hearing aid that is of the highest caliber and adjust it using the BOSE SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY that works with your smart phone.

 

You will be seeing this available in the near future…so look for it if you are interested.